Syracuse starts this season different than most. It has a new coach and a new starting quarterback. Very rarely have those two events lined up, if ever, in the history of Syracuse Football. But this year is as good as any, as Syracuse opens with a old foe and in the NFL's MetLife Stadium.

Syracuse still hasn't officially announced the starting quarterback, but it is looking most like Oklahoma transfer Drew Allen. He has been receiving the majority of the first team reps in practice and should do a fine job. The real question is if RB Jerome Smith can have another solid and productive season. It's no longer a mystery as the 1,000yd rusher returns to try and do the same. If Smith can find success in pounding the ball for the Orange, Allen should have a relatively easy day, making passes here and there. But if not, it rarely works out that a first time starting quarterback can engineer absolute magic. Especially when the top two receivers from the previous season on the team are no longer there. However, interestingly enough, Penn State is also starting a new quarterback and he is also a freshman. Christian Hackenberg is only the third true freshman to start for Penn State since 1910. Syracuse is known for pressure and blitz packages designed to get at the quarterback, or at least fluster them. That could come into play quite a bit tomorrow. Syracuse honestly should be able to find success at pressuring the quarterback. I think Syracuse makes at least one interception on the day. And I think that will probably be the advantage Syracuse needs to win in a close game. While Penn State will put up a good fight on the big state, Syracuse will simply execute a little better on the field than PSU. I'm picking the Orange to win the season opener over Penn State 27 to 20.

This game for most of the Orange::44 readership will be on ABC at 3:30pm. For those in the other half of the country, it will be on ESPN 2, so you will be able to catch this game nationally. It will also be available on Watch ESPN and ESPN 3. And you should definitely want to tune in. It's against a big team and an old rival in Penn State, it's the start of the Shafer era, it's the first game Syracuse will represent the ACC, and it's the start of a new year for the Orange. Plenty of skin in the game for you to check out. John will be down in the New Meadowlands so check out his Twitter (@JBren) for some live coverage. As for me, I'm checking out UMass at Wisconsin so I'll be checking out this game on my phone, preventing me from tweeting any commentary of value. But we'll be here after the Labor Day holiday to recap the game and get the season going. Until then, enjoy the game and Go Orange!

It’s
a new football season, so we here at Orange::44 are bringing you a
comprehensive, game by game preview of the upcoming football season. We each go
on record as to what games we think Syracuse will earn victories and which the
team will fall short. But hey, at least we aren't UConn, right?

Brian's Season Preview

Syracuse
embarks on their first season in the ACC. And on top of that they have a new
coach and a yet to be named starting quarterback. There are several unanswered
questions but the fact remains that Syracuse is still a pretty good football
team, despite the obvious growing pains coming with joining a new conference.

Syracuse
vs. Penn State (MetLife Stadium): Another season, another time for
optimism for Syracuse Football. Who is our starting quarterback? We’ll find out
Saturday afternoon. Penn State is not the Penn State of five years ago. If
there was ever a time for Syracuse to break the hearts of Penn State fans
across the country this is the game. Penn State is beatable. If Syracuse sticks
to their game plan, and has solid defense, the Orange will walk away victors. I
think this game is a coin flip in reality, but I’ll take the Orange. They have
to win one of these games in MetLife Stadium. And I doubt it will be Notre Dame
next season.

Syracuse
@ Northwestern:
A one point loss stings. But really, Syracuse deserved to lose last year to
Northwestern in the Dome as the defense just couldn’t stop their offense on the
final drive and Syracuse left too much time on the clock. It doesn’t help when
you commit penalties that keep giving the Wildcats automatic first downs.
Either way, Northwestern, while not an elite Big Ten team, is still a very good
one. I think the Orange fall short in Chicago.

Syracuse
vs. Wagner:
This is our (apparently now) annual game against an FCS game. Last year it was
Stony Brook. This year it’s the folks from Staten Island. Syracuse should roll
in this game. Not much more of a preview needed. With a 4:00pm start we’ll all
get some quality tailgating in for the Dome opener.

Syracuse
vs. Tulane:
Tulane gave Syracuse a bit of a game in New Orleans a couple seasons ago.
However, Syracuse did manage to pull out a win. Syracuse should do the same
this year. The game is in the Carrier Dome, and Tulane is not a team that should
surprise the Orange in terms of unexpected talent or playing way above
themselves. This should be a solid win, despite the fact that the game may be
close in the first half. Did you know Tulane is one of only 13 FBS schools that
don’t have an “s” on the end of their nickname? Syracuse is another. Name the
other eleven for personal satisfaction.

Syracuse
vs. Clemson:
Homecoming (NOT Orange Central) just happens to be a big game and the first conference
game for Syracuse in the ACC. Clemson is ranked in the Top Ten preseason polls
and will be the favorite to head to the ACC Championship game to face the other
division winner. Tajh Boyd is one of the most talented players in the ACC this season
and should give Syracuse a lot to handle. Despite being Homecoming, and despite
the Orange’s track record of upsetting ranked teams in the Dome the last few
seasons, I just think this one slips away for Syracuse. Too much talent on the
other sideline.

Syracuse
@ NC State:The Wolfpack will be the surprise team in the ACC this year, overachieving
where they, in theory, have no business being. Syracuse could come in and play
tough, or they could lose on the road. My gut says pick NC State and we’ll try
again in the Dome next season.

Syracuse
@ Georgia Tech:
Somewhat of a surprise in last year’s ACC, they headed to the title game,
losing to FSU. While the pieces aren’t all there from last year, they probably
have enough to hold off Syracuse on the road. The Yellow Jackets have been a
personal nemesis for me in my college career as my first and last games as a
student were both against Georgia Tech, both resulting in losses. At least the
latter got Coach P fired.

Syracuse
vs. Wake Forest:
Parents Weekend in the Dome, which means no student section to speak of.
However, the Dome will be full and moderately loud for the Demon Deacons as
they try and beat Syracuse, a team Syracuse beat in overtime to start their
2011 campaign. While the Dome probably won’t be as loud as normal, Syracuse
should be able to hold them off again. I like Syracuse in this one at home.

Syracuse
@ Maryland:
Syracuse has gotten Edsall’ed before. The Orange alum beat Syracuse at
Connecticut consistently in the Doug Marrone era before heading off to his “dream
job” in College Park. Maryland was kind of sad last season, losing every
competent quarterback they had right before the season started. While they will
be better this year, this is a game I think Syracuse can steal. Although this
game is on the road, I think Syracuse surprises the Terps in this one with a decent
road crowd from the greater DC area. And Scott Shafer sends the Terps to the
Big Ten with a loss.

Syracuse
@ Florida State:
Uhh… yeah I don’t think we’re winning this one chief. A few years ago almost
anyone I knew in education getting their masters ended up getting them at
Florida State. Syracuse has traditionally played tough against FSU but this is
not the year that should happen. I do think Florida State tries to sleepwalk through
the game against the Orange and has it closer than they would like in the third
quarter, but I see the Seminoles pulling away in the fourth.

Syracuse
vs. Pittsburgh:
Hey haven’t we seen you guys here before? Pittsburgh is on the quest to get
back to Birmingham, but they won’t be getting help from the Orange. Rutgers defector
Tom Savage is back from the dead and leading the Panthers into the Dome to try
and get a win. However I think right now Syracuse has the better club and
Syracuse traditionally plays the Panthers tough in the Dome. There should be a
good crowd on hand and Syracuse fans will be ready to see an old familiar foe.

Syracuse
vs. Boston College:
It’s odd to say but this is now the premier conference rivalry for Syracuse Football.
A throwback to the Big East days gone by, the Eagles come to the Dome trying to
get a conference win and maybe, at this point, try and get more than one
conference win. Steve Addazio is in his first year as BC’s head coach, and the
result should be similar to what he experienced against the Orange at Temple
last season. Syracuse should earn the win. Time to relearn the words to the old BC Fight Song. BC sucks and always will.

So
there is my season outlook. I am predicting a 7-5 season, and with that means
another Bowl Game. While not a spectacular season, and certainly there is room
for Syracuse to absolutely blow a game with a new QB and a new head coach, it
will keep fans happy and in the Bowl Season. Recruiting has obviously improved
the last few seasons and Shafer has continued to improve talent. Syracuse could
be a major conference player in a few seasons, but for now just be happy we are
in the ACC and not some league with no respect and no talent. I’ll take this
season if it shakes out this way and call it a victory for us all.

John’s
Season Preview

Last
year I did a preseason game by game preview. Nothing too in-depth, just my gut
reaction on whether I thought Syracuse would win or lose each game. I had
predicted a 5-7 season, but said that it could very easy float to 6-6, or even
7-5. Well, of course, it did, and we did the whole Pinstripe Bowl thing again
and that was pretty much awesomesauce. And this season, while Yankee Stadium
isn’t a possibility, another bowl berth for this year’s incarnation of the
Syracuse Orange certainly is.

Syracuse
vs. Penn State (MetLife Stadium): A year ago, in the shadow of the NCAA
sanctions, I figured the Nittany Lions would be so decimated that even a weak
Syracuse team would crush Penn State. Then PSU went and played 2012 like it had
nothing to lose – and didn’t lose much. Syracuse has so many variables, notably
at quarterback and at head coach. Penn State has great momentum from last year,
and I think more stability right now. This might be the hardest game on the
schedule to pick, and though I’m giving the W to Penn State, I don’t see a
blowout, and see the 4th quarter or overtime deciding this one.

Syracuse
@ Northwestern:
The Wildcats came into the Carrier Dome last year and took one from us. By a
point. It would be amazing for the Orange to visit Evanston and do the same
thing they did to Syracuse. I don’t see it happening.

Syracuse
vs. Wagner:
How’s this for a Dome opener to get you pumped up?!? The competition might not
be championship caliber [although it is Football Championship Subdivision caliber], but it should be a lovely
Central New York Saturday afternoon with some great tailgating to get us ready
for Scott Shafer’s first game at the helm under the bubble. The Orange should
win its first game of the season here.

Syracuse
vs. Tulane:
I think it’s universally understood that we hate the wave. So it stands to
reason that we would also hate the Green Wave. Like basically, we want to ban
the wave. I think Syracuse puts the hurt on Tulane so bad that the Green Wave
bans itself from the Dome. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.

Syracuse
vs. Clemson:
The first ACC Conference game for Syracuse. And it’s Homecoming. I’m
anticipating one of the largest Carrier Dome crowds for a recent football game
– certainly in the Scott Shafer era (duh), maybe even eclipsing anything in the
Doug Marrone era. But, let’s be honest: Clemson is really good. If this game
was on a Friday night, I give Syracuse a fighting chance. But, it’s not. So,
win to Clemson.

Syracuse
@ NC State:
The first ACC Conference away game for Syracuse. That’s so special that I’ve
decided to make the trek down to Raleigh for this one. And because I’ll be
there, and I’m dubbing myself as being good luck (for this game only), I say
the Orange steals this one from the Wolfpack.

Syracuse
@ Georgia Tech:
When I visited Atlanta in April for the Final Four, I discovered that the
Georgia Tech campus is in a pretty rough & tumble neighborhood. And then,
of course, things didn’t work out so well for Boeheim’s squad inside the
Georgia Dome. I don’t think Shafer’s squad has any better luck at Bobby Dodd
Stadium. Give this one to the Yellow Jackets.

Syracuse
vs. Wake Forest:
In the grand scheme of things, this is a team with which Syracuse has some
recent history. That has little bearing on the outcome, however. This is
Syracuse’s Parents Weekend (or, as they call it now, Family Weekend), so there
should be a decent crowd for this early November tilt. I’ll put a W down for
the Orange.

Syracuse
@ Maryland:
As fate has it, Syracuse & Maryland only get to play each other once as ACC
opponents. But also as fate has it, this series will continue after the
Terrapins make their way to the wasteland that is Big Ten football. Two things
are certain for this game: Maryland will wear something hideous, and Randy
Edsall will do something stupid. This is a fence game for me, but there’s
something telling me to pick Syracuse.

Syracuse
@ Florida State:
We all know that a Syracuse win at FSU would undoubtedly be the highlight of
the 2013 season and would make everyone think “Hey, Syracuse joining the ACC
was a really good idea!” Well, everyone except the Seminoles. But let’s get
real. It ain’t happening.

Syracuse
vs. Pittsburgh:
Hey, don’t we know you from somewhere? It’s like when you’re in an abusive
relationship, decide to move out to get away, then you still end up running
into each other all the time because you shop at the same store and still have
a lot of friends in common. I don’t personally know what that’s like, but my
family court clients do. To make a long story short, Syracuse wins.

Syracuse
vs. Boston College:
By my calculations, Syracuse enters this game 6-5. Syracuse is bowl eligible,
and with plenty of ACC bowls to go around, they’ve locked it in for one of
them. This game also officially renews the annual post-Thanksgiving rivalry
game with the Eagles, like it used to be in Big East play all those years ago.
Unfortunately I see the Orange with a turkey hangover and too much confidence,
having already clinched the bowl berth. The loss here leaves Syracuse at 6-6 to
finish out the regular season.

Chances
are, I’m way off with some of these picks.
But I think it’s safe to say we’ll see a pretty middling season out of
our Orange. Which is fine with me, all things considering: new coach, new
conference, new quarterback. Take each win where you can get it, and maybe,
just maybe, you have enough to get you to a late December game.

So there you have it. The mega Orange::44 preview you've been wanting and expecting. I'm predicting 7-5 and John is going with a 6-6 season. Either way, we both say a Bowl game is in the future for Syracuse Football. As always, stay tuned here for previews and recaps from every Syracuse Football game this season. We'll see how the team does with our usual grading system.

It’s a new season, a new conference, and another
year here at Orange::44. Therefore, as a public service to the fans, especially
the new freshmen on campus, we should brief you on some of those unofficial
things you should know to do things the right way this season. We have published
many of the guidelines we think fans at Syracuse should operate under. Here are
a few, more nuanced, ones.

1. No Wave

Important rule or THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE? It’s
been a couple seasons since all of the Syracuse bloggers got together and
released the definitive anti-wave video. None of us think The Wave has any
place in the Carrier Dome for any sport. The wave was big in the 80’s, and not
to make any readers feel old, but incoming freshmen are born in roughly 1995.
Despite looking like fools, The Wave doesn’t help the players play better, and
if anything lets them know that you aren’t really paying attention to what is
happening on the field. It doesn’t exactly create an intimidating atmosphere
for opponents entering “The Loud House” either.

2. Only Wear Orange (Blue Fine For Football [No White
or Gray])

They honestly shouldn’t even sell white jerseys at
Syracuse. When your team has a color for a nickname you should probably just go
ahead and buy a jersey in that color. For basketball, the Dome should be packed
with the students and everyone else in orange. Football is a little more
complicated. They usually wear navy blue uniforms, but have been selling orange
ones in stores. Do what you feel on that one. I myself have a #44 navy jersey
from the McNabb era, only because that was the home jersey they wore. The team
hasn’t worn an orange jersey in a few years, and when they did last Greg
Robinson was coach, but who knows what will happen now in the ACC. But do make
sure it’s a #44 if you’re getting a football jersey. I gave a really good try in writing an official rule for this so check that out here.

3. #44

Why, just today this issue went around the internets. At least know a few of the people that wore #44 at
Syracuse and why it’s important. Namely, Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, and Floyd
Little. However, there are plenty more great players that have donned the
number. Ernie Davis has the Dome turf named after him, a Dorm and dining hall,
a statue and a movie. Jim Brown is Jim Brown. Floyd Little works for the
Athletic Department and you can probably meet him. Check it out.

4. Rules of Court Storming

Over seven years ago, the founder of this
notebook, Matt Glaude (@HoyaSuxa), wrote a piece with the definitive guideline
for when to storm your local basketball arena’s court. I can’t add to it any
more. Go here and peruse the rules. They are solid. But overall, just use
common sense. If the team is really that great you probably shouldn’t storm the
court, even though it’s a blast.

5. No Spirit Fingers

This is a basketball specific rule. When Syracuse
players shoot free throws, the student section and members of The Sour Sitrus
Society (the basketball pep band) put their hands up. You might be tempted but it looks terrible. No spirit fingers please.
Just… no.

6. Clap Before A Field Goal, Even Free Throws

Another basketball specific rule. Before each half
all fans stand up and clap until Syracuse scores their first field goal. While
it usually is not the case, sometimes this takes a few minutes so fans are
standing and clapping for a longer time than preferred. This also means that if
there is a foul you have to clap through those as well. You clap until the ball
is in the hands of the Syracuse player, they shoot, and then you continue
clapping. Good mechanics are always appreciated.

7. Never Leave Early

This rule applies to all sports equally. Why pay
all that money to just go home early. But honestly, teams come back. I’ve seen
it. We all have. But also, it isn’t going to get you home that much quicker.
Enjoy the time spent with your family or friends at a game. And maybe see a
crazy ending you’ll be upset you missed.

This happens more than it should in the Carrier
Dome, especially at football. Yelling that Ryan Nassib sucks not only wasn’t
true last season, but it isn’t helpful and just pisses off the people around
you. If you hate the players don’t come to watch them.

9. Sit Over The Number On Your Ticket

This one doesn’t’ really apply to students or
lacrosse games as they are general admission, but it is important for busy
football and basketball games. I understand that some fans out there aren’t,
shall we say, the tiniest people in the world. And with just benches instead of
actual seats it might be tough to stay where you are. But when the upper
section is packed it is important for you to sit directly over a number to a
seat your group possesses. Otherwise someone gets screwed on space. It’s been
me a lot over the years.

10. Don’t Be That Drunk Guy/Girl

It’s cool to drink in the Dome, one of the few
college arenas on campus to let you do so in. Just don’t go overboard. We’ve
already seen the number of beers you can buy decrease from four to two in the
last five years. Getting rid of beer probably won’t ever happen, but they can
make it more inconvenient. Don’t be stumbling up and down the aisles, tripping
on people, and definitely don’t get so drunk you vomit in the seats. Being
buzzed for a game can be enjoyable. Not remembering a game is just dumb.

There you have it. A nice set of rules to follow when you head to the
Carrier Dome or are on the road watching The Orange. Some of these may seem
archaic but they are, in fact, rooted in tradition and are far from arbitrary.
Love/hate them? Leave a comment. The usual constructive rules apply this
season.

Another college football season is around the corner so it's time to fire Orange::44 back up again for another year and another season chronicling the daily disaster that is Syracuse University Athletics. For most of you guys visiting this site you probably have regularly for the last few years, maybe since the beginning. Welcome back and we thank you for checking us out again. For you new students or fans, allow this to be your invitation and introduction to our site.

Orange::44 Correspondent John Brennan is a lawyer. I am too. We both graduated from Syracuse, John twice. They call us #Lawdogs, more often than not when the unfortunate scenario of a Syracuse player is arrested. For some reason the traffic really spikes around here.

We've been blogging here for a while so feel free to peruse the archive to the right. I'll be updating the side bar shortly to officially bring this blog into the ACC. Additionally we'll have our ACC football previews this week, along with some other posts to shake the cobwebs off and lead us into the new year. Then we'll fall into our usual routines of previews and recaps. This year we'll have some new features as well, namely focusing on officiating and other ACC things. As always, any questions or comments can be left on each individual article or at the e-mail address to the right. We look forward to a fun first season in the ACC, and another great year for Syracuse. Go Orange!